OFFICIALS MOVE TO CONTROL CONSTRUCTION OF TOWERS

With applications pending from three companies seeking to build telecommunications towers in the city, local officials are taking steps to regulate tower construction.

"Right now it's uncontrolled. They can put them anywhere they want," said Jon Bryda, chairman of the city's building commission.

"We want to have some regulations in place. We have a couple [of towers] in New Britain already, but we don't want them popping up just anywhere."

The city's building department has begun drafting regulations to control the placement of towers in the city.

Although towers haven't yet sparked much controversy here, other Connecticut communities have grappled with resident complaints that towers are unsightly and harm property values.

Many towns have zoning regulations that prevent towers from springing up unchecked.

Bryda said his commission was viewing the new guidelines as a preventive measure.

"It can be a significant issue, and as with any significant issue, we want regulations in place so we can have some control," said Joseph Skelly, Jr., assistant corporation counsel for the city.

Alderman Aime Brochu, council majority leader, said the common council had referred the proposal to create tower regulations to its committee on salaries and ordinances. But Brochu questioned just how much power communities could have over towers.

"There will be a discussion on it, but I think the real authority on these towers sits with the siting council, the state agency. That's where the real power is," Brochu said.

Brochu said the recent appearance of a new tower off Corbin Avenue helped bring the issue to the forefront.

Frank Wiatr, director of licenses, permits and inspections for the city's building department, is researching and drafting the tower regulations. Wiatr said that the influx of the three applications caused him to more deeply investigate city ordinances.

"I was looking for some regulations, and so far in the city zoning regulations, there are none [on towers]," he said. "We need to have more control."

Wiatr said the federal telecommunications act of 1996 granted communities the right to draft tower guidelines.

"There isn't a lot of property in New Britain for expanding and throwing things up," Bryda said. "We figured we better start looking into some regulations."